Offer Letter Limbo

Recently we concluded the placement of a Senior Sales Representative for a publicly traded company. The role was ripe with potential as the company products were being widely embraced by current and new customers. The recruiting process went smoothly as the candidate progressed through several rounds of face to face interviews with company executives.

At the conclusion of the final interview, our candidate was pulled aside by his prospective boss, the Vice President of Sales. Substantive conversation took place as the candidate and prospective employer agreed upon the terms of a potential offer. The candidate and prospective employer spent approximately 30 minutes discussing in detail the offer terms: base compensation, commission schedule, profit sharing and bonuses, insurance coverage, car allowance, expense account and other related matters. At the end of the conversation, the candidate and the prospective employer shook hands to "seal the deal". The VP of Sales told him that their HR Director would follow up with him in the next "few days" with an "official offer letter".

Four business days later, the candidate called me. I could tell this normally cool and collected sales professional was a bit flustered. He had not heard anything from the company or their respective HR Director. What should he do? Should he call directly? Was that making him look too eager? Was the deal off? Our candidate was now in "Offer Letter Limbo". Offer Letter Limbo occurs when the candidate waits and waits for a company to take the action of creating and sending him a formal offer letter of employment. Jobseekers can avoid Offer Letter Limbo by following a few simple steps:

1. If you do not sense continuity, create it on your own. Smaller and even medium sized companies sometimes suffer from a lack of continuity in the hiring process. After your interview, and especially one like our candidate experienced where an actual verbal offer has been made, be certain to follow up the next day with written communication to the participants. If a verbal offer has been made, be certain to reconfirm the terms and parameters of the offer in writing to the person extending the offer. Make certain that your communication reflects your commitment and desire. Set a specific time period in which you anticipate hearing from them back in writing. Remove any possible obstacles to communicating with you by giving the employer various methods to reach you directly and conveniently.

2. If you have not done so already, open a channel of communication with the HR department. Make an inquiry with your prospective boss as to who will be handling or coordinating the creation of an offer letter. Follow up, preferably via telephone, to reconfirm your interest in working for the company and your anticipation in receiving the formal offer letter. Knowing and understanding that HR is constantly dealing with multiple job candidates for multiple departments, reconfirm your contact information and timeline directly with the HR representative.

3. Never stop your job search. Our candidate was fortunate to experience only a limited delay in receiving his offer letter. As a candidate, you do maintain negotiating leverage against a verbal offer in that you will continue your search and interviews until you surface a complete offer (verbal and written). This leverage can assist you in applying negotiating pressure to get the letter completed and ready for your acceptance if it is properly framed. The employer should assume that as a quality candidate you do have options. These options may materialize faster if they do not act in turning their verbal offer into a formal written offer. Thus, they stand the chance of losing your services.

"Offer Letter Limbo" can be a frustrating place. Careful steps at this critical stage of the interview process will assist you in reaching the finish line.

Executive recruiter William Werksman is a frequent columnist to job boards including http://www.NevadaJobBoard.com addressing both the candidate's and employer's perspective. Werksman's expertise has been featured in business magazines, national newspapers and television news segments. His firm, Resource Partners, is recognized as the leading source of specialized and executive talent in the Casino and Gaming industry. He manages a staff of recruiters out of his firm's Las Vegas, Nevada headquarters. He may be reached at: Bill@CareerInsider.com

---

Managing Emotions During Career Change and Job Search, Part Two

Half the battle in successfully managing your emotions during a... Read More

Q & A How to Find a Great Search Firm

Q & AQ: Are people sometimes cautious of 'headhunters'?A. Yes.... Read More

Career Change: Success Tips

Successful career change is based on first making an honest... Read More

Children At Work: Looking at Child Labor in the Victorian Age

Today, it isn't that uncommon for some children and teenagers... Read More

Electronic Resume Writing Tips That Boost Your Interview Appointment Success

Electronic Resume Writing Tips That Boost Your Interview Appointment SuccessBefore... Read More

How To REALLY Look For A Job

Are you looking for a job -- really looking? Or... Read More

Career Planning for Gifted Adults

"James is so restless and energetic. I wonder if he's... Read More

Job Search Blurts

I coined this word to draw attention to the nervous... Read More

You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First Impression

There is no easy way to define exactly what editors,... Read More

Supplement Your Skills and Improve Your Work Position

It is often said that the majority of people are... Read More

Job Interviews -- The Four Worst Objections You?ll Face and How to Deal with Them

Dealing with tough questions and objections is an essential part... Read More

Creating Your Own Luck

Losing my job in the last recession of... Read More

Seeking A New Job While Currently Employed : Tiptoeing Through the Minefield

So, you currently have a job but you are looking... Read More

What Me? Lie On My Resume? Who Will Know?

The temptation to lie on a resume is great! How... Read More

Create A Rappin? Resume

(Percussion sounds emanating from who knows where while you listen... Read More

How to Overcome a Bad First Impression

Have any of these situations happened to you? Forgetting your... Read More

Job Search Advice for Desperate Job Seekers

Another morning of job hunting lies ahead of you. You... Read More

How to Receive Multiple Job Offers After You?re Fired

Ask survivors of the most popular reality television shows and... Read More

Think Twice Before You Change Jobs

You've got the itch to change jobs. This might be... Read More

Can You Compete?

Are you looking to hire the best talent? Are you... Read More

Searching for Jobs Online

Searching for jobs online is easier than ever, but also... Read More

The Musketeer Approach

Stories of intrigue, treachery, politics, lies, double crosses,... Read More

How to Get Paid More Without Being Pretty or Good Looking

Guess what. The results are out they are ugly. Pretty... Read More

How to Know if You Are in the Right Career

Ever wonder if you are in the right career? If... Read More

Factual Employment Screening Part 2

An Employment Screening OutlinePolicy DevelopmentA policy of Factual Employment Screening;... Read More

Hey, You Cant Ask Me That! (How to Respond to Inappropriate Job Interview Questions)

I received the following questions from a visitor to my... Read More

Job Interview Mistakes To Avoid

By avoiding these 8 simple mistakes, you can improve your... Read More

Home Healthcare Careers

One of the fastest growing sectors of the medical industry... Read More

Telecommuting Website (Part Two)

Last article I discussed why a telecommuter would benefit from... Read More

How to Make More Job Contacts Faster, through Viral Marketing

Are you in the job market? Sick of every blog-byte... Read More

How To Deal With A Nightmare Boss

It can happen to anyone. there's a change in the... Read More

Franchising Offers NO Guarantees --

You have to ask --- IS a FRANCHISE FOR YOU?There... Read More

4 Niche Job-Search Tips

Looking for a job on the Internet can be daunting.... Read More